אָנַק
𐤀𐤍𐤒
ʼânaq
H602 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To utter a loud inarticulate sound in distress, anguish, or pain; to groan or wail, usually as a spontaneous vocal response to suffering, both physical or emotional. Most often denotes an involuntary vocal expression in times of hardship or affliction. In some contexts, appears as a verb describing the act of groaning or sighing under oppression or duress.
Semantic Range
to groan in pain or suffering, to sigh under oppression, to cry out in anguish, to wail involuntarily
Root / Etymology
From the root אָנַק (ʼ-n-q), potentially onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of groaning or wailing. The root is associated with vocal expressions of pain or distress; the lexical form אָנַק serves as a verb describing this act. No certain cognates in other Semitic languages, though some suggest possible relations to similar roots in Aramaic with the same sense of groaning or sighing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In the Hebrew Bible, אָנַק is a rare verb, attested only in contexts of profound distress, such as oppression, suffering, or physical pain. Its primary usage occurs in poetic and lament contexts (e.g., Job 24:12), highlighting involuntary, audible distress. The concept differs from other Hebrew verbs for 'crying out,' such as צָעַק (tsa‘aq), which can indicate a more intentional or articulate cry for help. English translations often render אָנַק as 'groan' or 'sigh,' but these may understate the loud, involuntary, and sometimes public character of the sound. In ancient Israelite society, such vocalizations were not only signs of personal suffering but could be interpreted as appeals to divine attention. The term does not carry religious or ritual overtones itself; instead, it describes a human response. In post-biblical Hebrew, the term is seldom used, and the root's usage did not significantly broaden. The later English word 'shriek' sometimes appears in translations but may imply a more piercing or horrifying sound than the original Hebrew suggests.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primitive root; to shriek; cry, groan.
Bantu Hebrew
No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been submitted for this word yet.
+ Add Bantu Hebrew WordRoot Family
אנק (ʾ-n-q) — to groan, sigh, wail, vocalize pain
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| H603 | אֲנָקָה | groaning of |
| H604 | אֲנָקָה | and the wailing-gecko |
| H689 | אַקּוֹ | slender wild ibex |
Word Forms
4 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H602-01 |
בֶּ/אֱנֹ֨ק | beenoq | HR/Vqc |
when the wounded groan | to groan | 1 |
H602-04 |
יֶאֱנֹ֥ק | yeenoq | HVqi3ms |
will groan | he will groan | 1 |
H602-03 |
וְ/הַ/נֶּ֣אֱנָקִ֔ים | vehaneenaqim | HC/Td/VNsmpa |
and who groan | the ones being made to groan | 1 |
H602-02 |
הֵאָנֵ֣ק | heaneq | HVNv2ms |
Groan | Groan! | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
H602-04 |
Jeremiah 51:52 | יֶאֱנֹ֥ק | yeenoq | HVqi3ms |
will groan | he will groan |
H602-03 |
Ezekiel 9:4 | וְ/הַ/נֶּ֣אֱנָקִ֔ים | vehaneenaqim | HC/Td/VNsmpa |
and who groan | the ones being made to groan |
H602-02 |
Ezekiel 24:17 | הֵאָנֵ֣ק | heaneq | HVNv2ms |
Groan | Groan! |
H602-01 |
Ezekiel 26:15 | בֶּ/אֱנֹ֨ק | beenoq | HR/Vqc |
when the wounded groan | to groan |